Overview
- The ban took effect this month on named services and targets the logged-in, account-based experience rather than blocking general access to platforms.
- Meta, TikTok and Snap say they will comply despite objections, relying on registered ages and activity signals and deleting flagged accounts, with no explicit technical benchmarks set in the law.
- Teens report using false birthdates, VPNs, parents’ accounts or face IDs, and spoofed selfies, with some saying these tactics already bypass age checks.
- Parents are divided between support and opposition, with some helping children stay online and others confronting fallout such as lost digital memories and mood changes, as psychologists recommend open, non-punitive conversations.
- The eSafety Commissioner is collecting compliance data and offering guidance to families, while Australia’s move is prompting wider policy discussions in Singapore and the European Union.